Econ Blog

your daily dose of economic commentary

Manufacturing Employment, Hours Down

1541. Manufacturing Employment, Hours Down

Menzie Chinn discusses the decline in manufacturing employment and hours, highlighting economic indicators and the potential impact of trade deals on recovery.

DOGE Was Always Doomed

1542. DOGE Was Always Doomed

Kevin Corcoran argues that DOGE's failure stems from unrealistic expectations and the inability to address significant federal spending issues, particularly in mandatory programs.

Even More On Recurrence Of Truncation Without Reswitching

1543. Even More On Recurrence Of Truncation Without Reswitching

An argument that explores the recurrence of truncation in production techniques and the implications of parameter variations in a four-dimensional space.

Health Care: Jonathan Gruber

1544. Health Care: Jonathan Gruber

Paul Krugman discusses Jonathan Gruber's role in the Affordable Care Act and the political challenges facing health care in America today.

'Buy now, pay later' purchases can now affect your credit score. Here's what that means

1545. 'Buy now, pay later' purchases can now affect your credit score. Here's what that means

The impact of 'buy now, pay later' services on credit scores and their implications for consumers, particularly younger and lower-income individuals, is discussed.

What I’ve been reading

1546. What I’ve been reading

Tyler Cowen reviews various books, highlighting their themes and insights across diverse topics, including history, science, and culture.

The simple math of the big bill

1547. The simple math of the big bill

An argument that the economic implications of a major tax and spending bill involve significant borrowing and cuts, raising questions about the resulting deficit's impact on everyday life.

Bryan Caplan on Antitrust

1548. Bryan Caplan on Antitrust

Scott Sumner discusses Bryan Caplan's views on antitrust, critiquing the implications of antitrust laws on philanthropy and economic efficiency.

The Elite Overproduction Hypothesis

1549. The Elite Overproduction Hypothesis

Noah Smith discusses how overproduction of educated individuals, particularly in humanities and STEM fields, contributes to social unrest and political frustration in America.

Why is the dollar off to a weak start this year?

1550. Why is the dollar off to a weak start this year?

The post discusses the U.S. dollar's poor performance this year, attributing its decline to actions by President Trump, according to an economics professor.

A consumption basket approach to measuring AI progress

1551. A consumption basket approach to measuring AI progress

Tyler Cowen discusses a new method for evaluating AI progress by focusing on practical usage rather than traditional hard problem metrics.

One of the cheapest ways to save a life is going away (EXTENDED VERSION)

1552. One of the cheapest ways to save a life is going away (EXTENDED VERSION)

The discussion focuses on U.S. foreign aid's impact on HIV treatment in Eswatini and Lesotho, and the potential consequences of the Trump administration's policy changes.

Q2 GDP Tracking: Moving on Down

1553. Q2 GDP Tracking: Moving on Down

The post discusses updates on Q2 GDP tracking estimates, highlighting adjustments in growth forecasts and contributions from various economic sectors.

Jeff Hummel on the American Revolution

1554. Jeff Hummel on the American Revolution

An argument that the American Revolution provided significant long-term benefits, countering misconceptions about its costs and effects on liberty and governance.

Business Cycle Indicators – June Employment Release and May Monthly GDP

1555. Business Cycle Indicators – June Employment Release and May Monthly GDP

Menzie Chinn analyzes June employment data and May GDP, highlighting employment trends and economic indicators relevant to the NBER Business Cycle Dating Committee.

Congress passed no tax on tips in Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.' Here's how it works

1556. Congress passed no tax on tips in Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.' Here's how it works

The post explains new tax exemptions for tipped workers included in a recent tax cut and spending bill passed by Congress.

China Works to Dominate in AI and EV

1557. China Works to Dominate in AI and EV

Emily Feng discusses China's ambitions in artificial intelligence and electric vehicles, highlighting data control and competitive pricing as key factors in these sectors.

AAR: Rail Traffic in June: Intermodal "Stumbles", Carload Growth Continues

1558. AAR: Rail Traffic in June: Intermodal "Stumbles", Carload Growth Continues

The post discusses recent trends in U.S. rail traffic, highlighting a decline in intermodal shipments and continued growth in carload volumes amid economic uncertainty.

1559. The Weird and Lovely Surge of US Productivity Growth

An argument that recent productivity growth in the U.S. may be temporary, driven by factors like remote work, labor reallocation, and technology, particularly AI.

Transaction Costs and the Law

1560. Transaction Costs and the Law

Jon Murphy discusses how transaction costs affect property rights and legal outcomes, emphasizing the role of mediation in resolving disputes efficiently.